An Enchanted Place

For day 67 of 365 Days Wild I went on a bug hunt in the meadow. I’ve tried to identify as many of them as possible (ids in gallery), but I’m no expert. Any additional or alternative identifications are welcome!

Firstly, it was a great day for ladybirds. I spotted four different species – three native, 7-Spot, 14-Spot and 2-Spot, and one invasive Harlequin. It was the first time I’ve ever seen a 2-Spot and it was determined to crawl on me. Each time I shook it off, it immediately landed somewhere else. It was so tiny that I was scared that I was going to accidentally squish it!

14-Spot ladybird

2-Spot ladybird crawling on my hand

2-Spot ladybird crawling on my face

7-Spot ladybird

Harlequin ladybird

Here are the rest of the bugs that I found:

Beetle

Spider egg sack

Potato Leafhopper (Eupteryx aurata)

Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

Beetle

A very faded 6 Spot Burnet Moth

Crane Fly (possibly Tipula oleracea)

Moth

Gatekeeper butterfly (Pyronia tithonus)

Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria)

Fly

Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

Common Spangle Gall (Neuroterus quercusbaccarum))